Signaling device



Sept. 16, 1941. H. N. CARVER SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Jan. l5, 1938 7 HIIHIIII INVENTOR Horace /V Carver av ATTO RN EY Patented Sept. 1d, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALsmCE l A Horace N. Carver, Wichita, Kans. Applictlunz N0. 1875.1..

This invention relates to signaling devices and more particularly to a portable signal adapted to be conveniently placed on roads for warning `motorists of obstructions on the road.

It is ordinarily diilicult for operators of vehicles particularly loaded trucks, to pull of! the road when it is necessary to make repairs on the vehicles, for example in changing tires, and stalled or otherwise stationary vehicles on roads create a hazard not only to motorists generally but also to the vehicle operators and the property under their control. l

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a signal capable of reflecting light rays from the lights of approaching vehicles to warn the occupants of -those vehicles of obstructions on roads.-

Other important objects of the present invention are to provide a collapsible light reflecting signal of sturdy construction; to provide against accidentally tipping over the signal: to provide an enclosure for the reflector which also acts as a base therefor; to provide a compact and easily operable signal; to provide protection for an improved reflector forming part of the4 mtl: to provide for effectively exposing the reflector upon opening the base enclosure; and to provide improved parts and arrangements of parts making up the signaling device.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided `improved details of structure, the preferred forni of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is aperspective view/,of a road with yvehicles thereon illustrating an arrangement of placing thereon signaling devices embodying the y features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a signal- I 40 tions in the interior of each of the frame meming device embodying the features of this inventiort when in openeddoperative condition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section through the hinged parts of the signaling device particularly illustrating the manner in which the reflector is moved to vertical operative position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the signaling device in collapsed condition to facilitate storage thereof.

l Fig. 5 is a detail disassembled perspective view of the relative parts of the signaling device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vtransverse section through a portion of the reflector per se particularly illustrating the mounting of the reflector plates on theframe bosses.

point between a pair of the reflector supporting bosses in the frame.

Referring more in' detail to the drawing:

The invention generally preferably includes al two-part cover member I, Fig. 4, forming an enclosing base for a reflector 2. Fig. 2, the cover and reflector being hinged relative to each other as at I, Fig. 3, in such a manner that the cover i is adapted to enclose the reflector for suitable storage, the cover member itself when opened raising the reilector to reecting position and forming a rigid base for adequately supporting the reflector in operative condition.

In the present instance, the housing members of the .signaling4 device embodying this invention are shown to preferably include substantially duplicate cast plates I and l of circular shape, each having a substantially continuous peripheral laterally turned flange 1 having spaced recesses I and l of different size, which recesses also extend into the body of the plates.

A boss Il is preferably formed integrally on each of the plates between the recesses and extends outwardly relative tothe peripheries of the plates. The bosses il are each provided with a face ii preferably flush with the outer face of its l plate and a laterally extending roundedend l2 oppositely disposed relative to the face li forming a substantially semi-circular lug I3 at the end of each of the bosses.

The reflector 2 preferably comprises plates Il each preferably formed of colored glass or similar semi-transparent material having lustrous backings il thereon. The edges of the plates are mounted within mating /frame members I6 and i' which are preferabiyfof substantially circular or ring shape and the frames are provided with concaved inner surfaces Il and I9... spaced alignable bosses 2l are provided on the concaved por- Awhich terminate .snort of the edges zz of the/ concavities to form a seat for the peripheral edges of the reflector-plates Il, the outer side edges of the plates being engaged by the edges 22 of the concave portions of the frames to secure the plates in the frames. The frames may be 'fastened together in a suitable manner asby the extension of fastening devices XIl through aligned apertures 24 in the bosses. n

`A portion of the periphery oi' each frame ring is preferably flattened' as shown at 25 and 26, Fig.

Fig. 7 is a substantially similar section at a 65 5, the flattened portion 2| of the fr-ame ring I1 concavities of the frames.

being providedwlith outwardly extending bosses 21 and 28 havlng substantially squared outer corners. 'I'he bosses21 and 2l are providedl with apertures 29 adapted to be aligned with similar apertures 30 in the'bosses I0 on each ofthe cover plate members to receive a suitable hinge pin 3| therein to hinge the cover members onto and frames for cushioning the reflector plates relative to their support to thereby permit relativelyv rough treatment of the signaling device without danger of breaking the reflectors. 'I'he space 32 between theA reflectors further acts to separate the reflector plates in such a manner that if one of the plates is broken the other may still be used, the inner gasket 34 acting to hold either of the reflectors in its frame to maintain the signal in effective condition even if one of the reflector plates is broken.

T he assemblyand operation of a signaling de- .vice constructed as described is as followsi .A pair of the. plates 5 and vl5 are preferably `employed together Yin facing relation, that is, .with the peripheral, edges of the flanges 1 in abuttingrelation. Since the plates are similarly designed they may be oppositely disposed relabosses I0 arev positioned adjacent each other 1n vside by side relation, asv shown in Fig. 4, when one of the plates is superimposed upon the other plate. The anges 1 of the cover plates'space `the body portions thereof sufficiently for receiving therewithin the frame members I6 and l1,

which, afterbeingl equipped with the reflector plates I4, so that the lustrous backings thereon are. adjacent each other, together with the gasket rings between the inner surfaces of the frames and the inner and outer peripheral edges of the plates, are fitted together and secured to each other by extension ofthe fastening devices through the alignable apertured bosses in the One of the outwardly extending bosses onthe frame I1, for example f the boss 28, is then mounted in the smaller recess 9 of one of the cover mem-bers, the other boss 21 fitting on the outside of the opposite cover plate boss and within the larger recess 8.

The hinge pin 3| is then applied to the aligned apertures in the bosses I0, 21 and 28 in such a manner that the'cover plates may be hinged relative to eachother and to the reflector supporting frames within the cover plates.

Since the ends I 2 of each of the cover plate bosses are rounded, when one of the cover plates is moved away from the other cover plate, it may be freely lifted to a vertical position. When the movement is continued beyond an angle of approximately ninety degrees, that portion of the moved plate member which bounds the bottoms of the recesses therein engages the upper -faceof the frame bosses 21 and 28, and continued movement of the plate bears downwardly on those bosses to lift the reflector to substantially Vertical position for placing it in effective condition to reflect light rays from either sioc thereof.

In open condition, the plate members are in substantially the same horizontal plane, that is, co-planar relationship and provide a base of substantial area to rigidly support the reflector in tive to each other in such a-mannerthat the erected condition, and it is unlikely that the re.

ilector may be accidentally hinged to non-operative condition.

It is apparent that the present device may be placed at the side, in front of or behind a vehicle on a road and that either ol' the reflector plates may be faced toward either direction of approaching trafllc on the road to warn the occupants of vehicles of an obstruction on the road.

Closing the signaling device is a very simple matter and any intentional thrust in either direction of the hinging movement of the cover plates and reflector forces the reector downwardly and carries with it one, of the cover plates to position Ithat cover plate in a vertical position, that cover plate ordinarily following the reflector Ato oppositely disposed horizontal position in such a manner that the flange thereon abuts the flange of the other cover plate and encloses the reflector.

The principal advantages of a signaling device embodying the features of the present invention are that it is strong and durable and will withstand rough treatment. The covers may be very simply flipped open or closed to place the reiiector in operative or in closed condition. The device is very compact and may be conveniently stored in any type of vehicle.. Light rays may be reflected vfrom either side of the reflector. Further, even should one of the reflector plates be broken, the gaskets prevent the other plate from falling out and the reflector is still eiective to reflect light rays from at least one source of light incidence.

What I claim and desire to secure vby Letters Patent is:

1. A road signal including a frame adapted to carry a signal element,v a pair of duplicate mating members arranged on opposite sides of the frame and normally forming an enclosure therefor, said membersvhaving adjacent cut-out portions, bosses on the members extending laterally therefrom adjacent said cut-out portions, a boss on the frame extending through said cut-out portions adjacent the bosses of said members, and means hinging said bosses together to swingingly interconnect said frame and mating members, portions' of said members bounding `said cut-out portions being engageable with portions of the boss on the frame to move said frame in response to movement of a mating member outwardly relative to the other mating member, the boss on said frame being reduced at lts inner end to allow said mating member portions to pass by the same and having relatively fiat outer portions for engagement by one of said mating member portions when the latter is in substantially perpendicular relation to the other mating cut-out portions being engageable with portions v of the boss on the frame to move said frame in response to movement of a mating member outwardly relative to the other mating member, 4the member portion, said mating member portions boss on said i'rame being reduced at its inner clamping said frame boss therebetween when the end to allow said mating member portions to mating members are swung to co-planar relapass by the same and having relatively fiat outer tionship for maintaining said frame in erected portions for engagement by one o! said mating 5 condition relative to said mating members. member portions when 'the latter is in substantially perpendicular relation to the other mating HORACE N. CARVER. 

